WWE Unreal is EXACTLY What the Sport Needs!

WWE Unreal is a Netflix original series that dives into the world of professional wrestling, blending elements of documentary, reality TV, and scripted drama. Rather than presenting wrestling purely as entertainment or as a behind-the-scenes exposé, the show walks the line between spectacle and authenticity, offering fans and non-fans alike a new lens on one of the most enduring forms of performance entertainment.

What stood out to me so much was just how detailed we go behind the scenes of each wrestling pay per view from the writers room where we learn about storylines to straight from the Gorilla Room where all the match calls are made, camera angles planned and even moves spoken before they play out in real time, it may annoy a lot of wrestling purists out there but I couldn’t give a flying f**k about their opinions, this show was awesome!

This unprecedented look behind the scenes spoils absolutely nothing other than destroying the illusion that wrestling is real and whilst it does expose the predicted narratives and storylines this documentary series solidifies just how real the moves are, how real the emotions are and how real the injuries that these superstars inflict upon themselves are.

It’s an absolutely brutal sport despite being predetermined and the level of respect I have for those superstars is tenfold what it was before I started watching.

I’m sure the doc left out the stars that don’t get along behind the scenes as this did very much feel like it was overly nice,  the hugs in the dressing room, the pep talks from Triple H which I’m sure he does all the time but were focused on more in this doc and everything just felt like one big happy family and whilst I’m sure it is to a degree the documentary certainly glosses over the behind the scenes feuds and focuses on the more ‘everything is awesome’ approach and that’s a shame.

CM Punk’s redemption arc was also somewhat glossed over to a tee and in his on-camera interviews in the beginning he came across a certain way but when the last episode came around it all made sense and you just got to respect the guy, he deserved his shot and there’s not many people who could have done what he did and be invited back let alone to shoot to the Wrestlemania headline spot, it just goes to show if you believe in yourself you really can achieve anything.

Unreal showcases a candid backstage look and whilst we do focus heavily on the Gorilla Room throughout it’s still great to see the interviews with the stars, I was rather hoping there would be more of a focus on Logan Paul because his angle and story is very different to the other stars on that roster and documenting his journey would have been a cool angle that could link the audience more emotionally, the other stars all grew up wanting to be wrestlers and yet this influencer manages to come on in here with bags of talent and whether you like him or not, surprised an entire fanbase.

That would definitely be a cool angle to explore in future seasons for sure.

Just enough heart and lots of fight Unreal whilst surface level at times certainly takes us behind the curtain (quite literally) into the heart of sports entertainment and even as a non-wrestling fan, I just have to respect it, majorly.

I feel as though over the years many of my friends who watch wrestling all say the same thing, it feels a bit stale as it’s forever trying to recreate the glory days where every name on the roster was a big name and back when I was younger and it was called WWF, it was all that and then some. There’s rarely a big moment anymore or any sort of surprise angle but this documentary certainly helps to give you a massive appreciation for the industry and maybe even gain a lot of respect and new fans as a result.

WWE Unreal is well produced and a damn good watch!